Sidmouth Primary School-Woolbrook Site, Sidmouth, Devon Ecological Impact Assessment March 2021
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Sidmouth Primary School-Woolbrook Site, Sidmouth, Devon Ecological Impact Assessment March 2021 A report on behalf of NPS South West Ref: 1205b-EcIA-LW www.ge-consulting.co.uk - 01647 253652 - [email protected] GE Consulting is a trading name for GE Consulting Services (UK) Ltd registered number 08435536 Registered office: Unit 11A, Gidleys Meadow Business Park, Christow, Devon, EX6 7QB. VAT Number 160595992 NPS South West Sidmouth Primary School-Woolbrook Site, Sidmouth, Devon Site Details Site Name Sidmouth Primary School-Woolbrook Site Site Location Sidmouth, Devon Central OS Grid Reference SY 1253 8930 Client NPS South West Quality Assurance Report Title Ecological Impact Assessment Report Reference 1205b-EcIA-LW Author Louise Woolley BSc MCIEEM Checked By Jon Garner BSc MCIEEM Approved By Jon Garner BSc MCIEEM Revision No. FINAL Issue Date 10 March 2021 Summary of Changes N/A Revised By N/A Approved By N/A The content of this report that has been provided by GE Consulting is true, and has been prepared and submitted in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s Code of Professional Conduct. Its contents are compliant with British Standard BS42020: 2013 Biodiversity Code of Practice for Planning and Development. This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of the stated client and unless otherwise agreed in writing by GE Consulting, no other party may use, make use of or rely on the contents of the report. No liability is accepted by GE Consulting for any use of this report, other than for the purposes for which it was originally prepared and provided. GE Consulting has exercised due care in preparing this report. It has not, unless specifically stated, independently verified information provided by others. No other warranty, express or implied, is made in relation to the content of this report and GE Consulting assumes no liability for any loss resulting from errors, omissions or misrepresentation made by others. Any recommendation, opinion or finding stated in this report is based on circumstances and facts as they existed at the time that GE Consulting undertook the work. Nothing in this report constitutes legal opinion. If legal opinion is required the advice of a qualified legal professional should be secured. © Copyright GE Consulting Services (UK) Limited 2021 A Glossary of the terms used in this report is provided in Appendix 1. NPS South West Sidmouth Primary School-Woolbrook Site, Sidmouth, Devon Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................1 2 Aims ...............................................................................................................................................................1 3 Methods .........................................................................................................................................................1 3.1 Desk Study ..................................................................................................................................................1 3.2 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey ..............................................................................................................1 3.3 Survey Limitations ......................................................................................................................................1 4 Results ...........................................................................................................................................................2 4.1 Designated Sites .........................................................................................................................................2 4.2 Habitats & Flora ..........................................................................................................................................2 4.3 Fauna ..........................................................................................................................................................2 5 Impacts and Mitigation .................................................................................................................................2 5.1 Designated Sites .........................................................................................................................................2 5.2 Habitats and Flora ......................................................................................................................................3 5.3 Fauna. .........................................................................................................................................................3 6 Enhancements ..............................................................................................................................................3 7 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................................3 8 References .....................................................................................................................................................4 Figures 1: Mitigation and Enhancement Plan Appendices Appendix 1 – General Glossary of Terms ..............................................................................................................6 Appendix 2 – Planning Policy and Legislation ........................................................................................................7 Appendix 3 – Site Photographs ..............................................................................................................................9 Ecological Impact Assessment 10 March 2021 1205b-EcIA-LW NPS South West Sidmouth Primary School-Woolbrook Site, Sidmouth, Devon 1 INTRODUCTION This report presents the results of an Ecological Impact Assessment at Sidmouth Primary School- Woolbrook Site, Sidmouth, Devon (central OS grid reference: SY 1253 8930) in relation to a proposed planning application the development of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) The surveys were commissioned by NPS South West. This report should be read in conjunction with the Woolbrook Proposed Site Plan Ref: NPS-DRL-00-801-P3 and the Sidmouth Primary-Manstone Site, Ecological Impact Assessment (GE Consulting 2021). The area within the application boundary is hereafter referred to as the ‘Site’. 2 AIMS The aims of this report are to: Identify and describe the habitats and species likely to be affected by the proposed development and assess the ecological value of these features; Identify key ecological constraints to the proposed development and evaluate the significance of any potential effects; and, Provide recommendations for mitigation and enhancement opportunities in accordance with relevant planning policy, legislation and other published guidance (see Appendix 2). 3 METHODS 3.1 Desk Study An internet search was undertaken to identify statutory sites designated for nature conservation value within a 2km radius of the Site boundary, extended to 5km for European sites, using the Government’s mapping website MAGIC (www.magic.gov.uk). Devon Environment Viewer was used to search for consultation zones that cover the Site and aerial photography of the wider area was reviewed to assess connectivity and landscape features which may be important to local biodiversity. 3.2 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey A site walkover was undertaken in accordance with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s Phase 1 Habitat Survey methodology (JNCC 2010) on 23 October 2020 by Louise Woolley BSc MCIEEM when weather conditions were dry with good visibility. All habitats within the Site were identified, described and mapped during the field survey, and a non- exhaustive botanical species list compiled. Plant names follow Stace (2019). The survey was extended to highlight the potential presence of protected and priority species in accordance with CIEEM’s Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (2017). This involved a search to identify the presence or potential presence of notable and protected species such as breeding birds, badger Meles meles, dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius, bats, reptiles and amphibians. Target Notes (TNs) were used to record any features or habitats of ecological interest. 3.3 Survey Limitations Care has been taken to ensure that balanced advice is provided on the information available and collected during the study period (s), and within the resources available for the project. However, the possibility of important ecological features being missed due to survey timings, absence during surveys or the year of survey cannot be ruled out. In addition, the lack of evidence or records of protected species on Site does not preclude their presence from Site. Ecological Impact Assessment 1 10 March 2021 1205b-EcIA-LW NPS South West Sidmouth Primary School-Woolbrook Site, Sidmouth, Devon 4 RESULTS 4.1 Designated Sites There are three Natura 2000 sites within10km.The Sidmouth to West Bay SAC is located 1.8km south of the Site, which is designated for coastal habitats. The Pebblebed Heaths SAC is located 5km west, which is designated for lowland heath and associated species and Beer Quarry and Caves SAC is located 8.9km east which is designated for the Bechstein’s bat. There are two further statutory sites Fire Beacon Hill LNR and Sidmouth to Beer Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)within 2km. There are four County